Thursday, December 29, 2011

(conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches)
Here's a job that I would have loved to do the entire picture -- horse and all! But the client could only afford the basic portrait. The photo was old and small; his head was about 1/2" high. But though the contrast was strong, the highlights were perfectly exposed and the shadows retained just enough detail to be intriguing.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Their family cat had passed away shortly before Christmas this year. A memorial portrait from an excellent reference photo as this one was never fails to touch something deep inside me.
I have has several cats come and go through my life...

Monday, December 26, 2011

A recent pet portrait commission (conte and pastel pencil, 10x8 inches.) The adorable ones like this are the most enjoyable jobs!
See my drawings website at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com for info on how to commission a pencil portrait.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Nellie is the 'identical twin' of Hugo (wink) a handsome cow of whom I have so many great pics to choose from, that I had to paint another. I especially enjoyed the distinctive pink pattern on the muzzle, and the trepidatious look in her eye!
I believe I'm making steady improvements with my oil painting skills!

My new art book "Cows, etc. -100 Miniature Portraits-" celebrates the beauty of the bovine and other animals, in 100 miniature pastel portraits, reproduced in full color images! Available here: www.createspace.com/3718769
Just in time for Christmas gift giving! (Order soon to allow time for printing and shipping)

Saturday, December 3, 2011

This is my answer to several requests for another "Bodyguard", which won first place recently at the ASBA, and sold immediately! "Guardian" will be available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas after Dec 5.

Monday, November 28, 2011

"Valentina" had the privilege of representing my artwork for the honor of being a juror for the 2011 IAPS (International Association of Pastel Societies) exhibition in Albuquerque earlier this year. She was displayed on the juror's wall during the exhibit, right between paintings by Desmond O'Hagan and Liz Haywood-Sullivan (and is also behind me in my Facebook profile pic!)

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

"Cows, etc. - 99 Miniature Portraits -" (24x18 inches) is my poster celebrating the completion of 100 cows and other animals in this series of small portraits. I'm also working on a book (which will be ready any week now...) and the poster was my quick gift to myself as soon as I knew the book would be delayed...
Order a poster here!

Friday, November 18, 2011

"Max" (pastel pencil, 10x8 inches) is a recent commission. The client wanted a black & white pencil drawing originally, but when I saw the photo of Max, I HAD to talk him into getting color! It was easy!
See my Pencil Portrait site for information on commissioning a portrait, at RitaKirkmanDrawings.com

Thursday, November 17, 2011

This warm, friendly fellow is recently available after not hearing from a client I was saving him for. He's available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas until through January 2012. He's also included in my book and poster!

Friday, November 11, 2011

I like Jasper. He's got attitude!
He's also my last post for the current batch of bovines included in my new "Cow's etc." book (in progress!)
Jasper is available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas through January 2012.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

This little calf had the most unique coloring I think I've ever seen. Made me think of warm butterscotch swirled into white cake batter...(yep - been thinking of food lately!)
This one will also be available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas through January 2012.

Monday, November 7, 2011

I believe this is my first llama in this series - I don't know why that is; I love the look of llamas. I think this one may have been from the first good photo of a llama in sunlight. My other shots are mostly from indoor petting zoos... That's probably why.
"Sam" will be available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas through January 2012.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Believe it or not, "Whitecap" is a name I reused from an older cow portrait that I 'rejected' as not up to my exacting standards. I like this Whitecap much better.
(The old Whitecap was a different cow with a white 'cap', on a different surface, and will never be seen or heard from again!)
Whitecap is available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas through January 2012.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Well, after the marathon of 5x7 pastel cows last week (most still to be posted) I had a hankerin' to use a paintbrush and give my dry, cracked fingertips a rest (pastel artists, you know what I'm talking about!) So this past Sunday at the bovine paint-out at Cactus Jack's I took along my oils and a photo of this handsome fella'.
Sometimes I really love oil paint ...when I can manage to make it do what I want!

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Well, here it is! My 100th miniature cow portrait! Admittedly all have not been cows, about a dozen have been other miscellaneous animals; goats, donkeys, bison, even a camel, and a few others. I'm so excited to have gotten to 100 without getting BORED!! I'm amazed that I'm actually still pumped to do some more! (Ok, probably because it took me 2 years and several wanderings into other genre...)

I have some here at home leading up to this one, that I will post in the next few days. I debated holding off on posting this one until the end, but I don't believe this will be the end.... so... I wanted to commemorate the moment!

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Here's a painting I did as a request from an admirer who saw my first duckling painting "Safety Net" at the IAPS convention silent auction and missed bidding on it. This painting now happily has a home in Canada!

I was looking for a posting of "Safety Net" to link to it, and realized I had never posted it! So here it is below. This was a part of the "Pastel Pics" Silent Auction at the International Association of Pastel Societies biannual convention in Albuquerque last May.

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

I'm excited to announce that my painting "Red Robin" has won the CPS Founders Award at the Connecticut Pastel Society "Renaissance in Pastel" National Juried Exhibition. The show, at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury, CT, continues through November 13, 2011.

Friday, October 14, 2011

These adorably fluffy cows are frustratingly shy of roadsides. This composition was created from two long zoom shots very far from the fence line. But I do like how the back-light almost completely obscured the center cow's face. I think it helps with the impression of incredible furry-ness.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Here's my newest medium square in my cow series. This will be for the upcoming show of the American Society of Bovine Artists at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas, Oct 22- Jan 1.
I couldn't resist these ladies when I saw them. Their expressions have such personality! The title came at me right away.

Friday, October 7, 2011

I'm happy to announce that these cute fellas won First Place in Pastel at the New Braunfels Art League annual ARToberfest Regional Juried Exhibit this month. The Show continues through November 12, at the New Braunfels Art League Gallery, 239 West San Antonio Street, New Braunfels, Texas.

Thursday, September 22, 2011

This is the last of my most recent batch of miniature animal portraits that are not sold or out at galleries. She's a beautiful female deer of some sort, from a wildlife ranch. I loved the golden glow of her coat backlit by the afternoon sun.
Amber is available at Cactus Jack's in Gruene, Texas through January 2012.